BACA HOLDS LEAD AFTER TWO ROUNDS AT OSSO JUNIORShin retains lead in Girls Divsion

EDMOND, Okla. -- Ryan Baca of Richmond, Texas,
carded a second-round, 2-over-par 72 and holds a one-stroke
lead heading into the final round of the AJGA OSSO Junior
at Oak Tree. Cindy Shin of Coppell, Texas, shot a 73
to retain her lead in the Girls Division.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association at Oak Tree Country Club, East Course,
features 144 players, ages 13-18, representing 21 states.

Baca, who sat in second place after day one, got out
of the gates quickly with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 before
a bogey on the par-3, 178-yard sixth moved him to 1-under-par.
After a lengthy 2-and-1/2 hour weather delay, the honorable-mention
Polo Golf Junior All-American hiccuped with a double-bogey
on No. 9 when play resumed to make the turn at 1-over-par.
After a bogey on No. 11, Baca recovered with his third
birdie of the day on No. 12 before playing his final
six holes at 1-over-par en route to a back nine 36 and
a two-day total of 67-72--139.

"I started out hitting the ball pretty well,"
the Baylor signee said. "The rain kind of slowed
me down, but the key has been hitting greens. I've been
making a lot of pars and playing away from bogeys.

"Coming in, I didn't think I could work a 70,
so I'm not complaining about my score."

The 18-year-old Baca will be looking for his second
AJGA title after winning the AJGA Henry-Griffitts Bluegrass
Junior Invitational last year. He also placed second
at the 2000 AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic and took third
at the AJGA TaylorMade-adidas Golf Junior at Whispering
Pines in April.

First-round leader Ryan Rainer of Norman, Okla., finished
the day with a 4-over-par 74 and trails by one stroke
at 66-74--140. Tyler Garrett of Houston, Texas, is in
third with 70-71--141.

In the Girls Division, Shin followed up her first-round,
2-over-par 72 with a second round 73 to stake claim
to a four-shot lead heading into the final round. After
making the turn at 3-over-par 38, the 16-year-old played
the back nine in even-par fashion for a two-day total
of 72-73--145.

"Overall, I played pretty well today," the
honorable mention Polo Golf Junior All American said.
"I didn't make crucial mistakes and I was pretty
consistent.

"Tomorrow, I just need to worry about my own game
and play the course."

Shin paired with Brittany Lang last year to take the
title at the AJGA Justin Leonard/Deloitte & Touche
Junior Team Championship before placing second at the
2000 AJGA Texace San Antonio Shootout. She also finished
fourth this year at Whispering Pines.

Kelly Robb of Concord, Mass., and first-round co-leader
Nicole Melton of San Antonio, Texas, sit in a tie for
second at 149, while Erin Tone of Gilbert, Ariz., is
third at 73-77--150.

The tournament concludes Thursday, with tee times running
from 7:30-9:09 a.m. and 12:00-1:39 p.m. off the first
and 10th tees.

For more information on the AJGA OSSO Junior at Oak
Tree, contact Tournament Headquarters at (405) 340-1010,
Ext. 512.

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